Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN217901’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘MAN217901’, characterized by its upright and spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; relatively small glossy green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and large flowers with broad red purple-colored petals.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MAN217901’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MAN217901’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Mandevilla plants with large and attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from an open-pollination in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number 11-0006-000, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with an unknown selection of Mandevilla sanderi as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, since August, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MAN217901’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MAN217901’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Relatively small glossy green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large flowers with broad red purple-colored petals.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunparapibra’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,649. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Sunparapibra’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Sunparapibra’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Sunparapibra’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         ‘Sunparapibra’.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Sunparapibra’.     -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Sunparapibra’.     -   6. Petals of plants of the new Mandevilla are darker red purple         in color than petals of plants of ‘Sunparapibra’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical flowering plant of ‘MAN217901’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MAN217901’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time four weeks after planting. Plants were twelve months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘MAN217901’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number 11-0006-000, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Mandevilla             sanderi, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 27 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous to slightly             fleshy; typically whitish brown in color, actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and spreading plant habit;             short internodes, dense and bushy appearance; vigorous             growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 66             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 66             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 50 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about four primary branches, each with             about three to five secondary lateral branches. Length,             primary branches: About 30 cm to 40 cm. Length, secondary             branches: About 5 cm to 15 cm. Diameter, primary and             secondary branches: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm             to 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy becoming woody and matte with             development. Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color,             developed: Close to 152B; when woody, close to N199C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; relatively small.         -   Length, fully expanded leaves.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.         -   Width, fully expanded leaves.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; leathery; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Full             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; main vein,             close to 143C and lateral venation, close to 147A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; main vein,             close to 145B and lateral venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary racemes; flowers star-shaped and face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about             seven to eight flowers per inflorescence and during the             flowering season, about 25 open flowers and about 100 flower             buds per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             late spring until frost in the autumn in The Netherlands;             early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about seven             months after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About eight to ten days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Elongated, spindle-shaped. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 145B; towards             the base, close to 63B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Length: About             7 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube length: About 4 cm             to 5 cm. Tube diameter, proximally: About 4 mm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; proximal portion of the petals are fused into             a tube; distal free portions slightly imbricate. Petal             length: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Petal width: About 2.5 cm to             3 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Ovate to triangular,             asymmetrical. Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat and tube             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to N57B. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to N57B; towards the base, close to 145D. Petal, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N57A; towards the throat,             close to 53C; venation, close to 53C; color does not change             with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 58B; venation, close to N57B; color does not change with             development. Throat: Close to N25B; venation, close to 62C             and 53C. Tube: Close to 58B; towards the base, close to             145C; venation, similar to ground colors.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl; calyx, star-shaped. Length: About 5 mm to             8 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Sepal length: About 6 mm to             7 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Subulate. Sepal             apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Sepal color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 144C; towards the apex, close to 181B. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C; towards the apex,             close to 181B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             color: Close to 14D. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             shape: Elliptic. Anther color: Close to 18A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Quantity:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Style color:             Close to 145C. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close             to 144B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about     45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN217901’ as illustrated and described. 